Operation: Integration - Tips & Tributes

Can we see some examples of how this might work? Are we talking incorporating characters from other arcs, branching from other authors' plot threads, referencing clue items from other arcs, etc.? I'd suppose that such references would need to give author, title, and arc ID in the reference?

What do you best recommend for authors looking to get in on this sort of thing?

My example from "Black as Midnight" (added 5/31/11)

First Mission - Collection - Computer (Tech) - Front


*Fix in-game now says "W.A.I.L. Station Monitor"

In Souvenir:

*midway through Souvenir

However, @Apolinus sent me /tell request for guest appearance (surprised me, guessing related to Global Character Contest?) in his "Clown Capers" arc... and I agreed.

Asked him what he's looking for... he gave me details... I complied with who I thought might be best fit with .costume details in Forum Mail (anyone who does this, make sure you have 1 space at top and 2 at bottom of .costume file, I believe)

In his arc, in mission 3... my character is optional Boss not shown on Nav (which is 100% cool with me)... he altered my odd-ball character to fit his story a bit... with Clue on defeat linked to "Black as Midnight".

I've played it 3x now (and I believe he will get 2 more plays from my friends who probably wouldn't see it for a long, long time otherwise if ever) and submitted requests for animations, dialogue and clue description. He complied and then there was sunshine!

I'm willing to bet if this snowball gets a-rollin'... authors who include the "community" will see an increase in plays and overall Architect Entertainment activity. I toyed with this quietly a little back in Issue 14 before the band-aid fixes drove me away for a while, but now I'm barrelling ahead full steam with it and calling out for others to join in.

Personally, I will be doing "Tips & Tributes" to arcs and characters in the theme of my current arc. So, as I find "Dark Astoria" or "Netherworld" themed arcs... I may add more Clues to "Black as Midnight" if they really grab me. This is my personal choice. @Apolinus is taking a different approach... and that's 100% fine with me too. I hope we all add our own style and flair to our own arcs and try to include the community to a certain degree. I frown on copycatting anyhow.

Why do I suggest Souvenir for details vs Clue Description?
1) Tips & Tributes: Encourages the other party to play the arc through to see their arc or character technical details.
2) Tributes: If Ally or Rogue defeats the "guest", Clue will not be found.
3) Tips & Tributes: Souvenir is easily referenced later, Clues are not.
4) Tips & Tributes: Helps immersion slightly by not displaying it during play.


And in closing... we've got the increased data, power and tools to do this... so why aren't we?

Great job on this thread, @SupaFreak.

I'll throw my .02 in.

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Why Integrate?

MMOs are distinct from other sorts of games because they allow for a persistent, interactive environment with a shared continuity.

My actions in game can influence your choices and vice versa.

And we share a common knowledge - when I reference Statesman or Marauder you know what I'm talking about because we've experienced that content. I may have encountered statesman in LRSF, and you may have encountered him in STF - but we share an experience of that character.

@SupaFreak'sGlobal Character Contest thread was fantastic, in that it pointed out a massive area of untapped potential in the AE system - that being integration.

The developers already integrate their content - characters across the game (and in other media) reference, know about, and are affected by the signature heroes and villains. Hero and villain groups like the Phalanx are known, talked about, or important in arcs all across the continuity of the game.

Thus far, AE authors have only very limitedly tapped into the core benefit of working in an MMO environment - the ability to interact with one another. (EDIT: I'm sure some of the more experienced arc-forgers here will be along to correct this assertion. It may be a lost art. My point is I don't see it much in the arcs I've encountered.)

Integration can take many forms. The two main categories I can think of are:

Arc-arc integration

The continuity of my arcs interacts with, affects, or is affected by the continuity of your arc in some way. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

Perhaps a hero or signature character from your arc is encountered in mine. Heroes don't exist in a vacuum. Why do the heroes in your arc exist only in that story? Real living, breathing heroes might be encountered in a number of stories across the game world - so your arc's hero might make a very brief appearance in my arc, where she plays a very major role (possibly as the contact) in yours.

Perhaps a custom enemy group from your arc is encountered in mine. While your arc might center on this group of criminals and tell their back story, maybe they appear as hired thugs or random passers-by in mine. (Or as allies, if I'm building a villain arc.) Why do we have to look at Arachnos and Family all the time?

Perhaps your arc is just referenced in mine. For example, the player might kill a mob in my arc and find in one of the pockets a crumpled note from a character in your arc - possibly the contact, asking for help, with an arc ID written in for player reference. Or perhaps my contact is the brother, sister, supergroup mate, or mortal enemy of a character or contact in my arc.

Perhaps there is a book on a shelf in my arc that lends insight or backstory to a minor point in your arc.

You get the idea.

Arc-world integration

This is much more common. It happens any time someone uses Statesman or Positron as a contact, or has Mako as an enemy encounter. This is where canonical characters from the world interact with the arc.

It can also happen when the arc interacts with player character toons - perhaps one of your toons guest stars in my arc. This provides a novel means of providing further backstory and characterization - however minor - for your toons.

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The whole point is, using small to moderate parts in other arcs to foster collaboration, cooperation, a richer game world, and a better player experience. Having themes, characters, concepts, and locations re-occur will lend a sense of additional three-dimensionality and reality that will increase the quality of our content.

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A word on etiquette...

I'm not big on writing rules. I do have a few guidelines I plan to live by, and hope others choose to do the same. I recommend the following:

1. If you wish to use another author's content, request permission.

The author of that content may know things about the back story, motivation, thoughts, abilities, and limitations of their characters that you don't. Besides being rude, if you slap a character or group into your arc, you may be misusing or misrepresenting that character or group.

Why not ask permission from the author and get their help in implementing their content?

2. If you use another author's content, it's polite to extend the opportunity to guest author.

If I want your character in my arc, I must like something about your storytelling. So I should present you with the opportunity to write the dialog, description text, and set the animations for your own character in my story, if you wish to do so.

At the very least, I should present you with my plan and see if you feel it is appropriate and consistent with your wishes as the author of your content.

3. If you use another author's content, it's polite to reference their arc ID.

This is especially true if that content is from someone else's arc. If I want to include the contact from your arc as an escort mission in my arc, I think it's polite (and benefits the player and other author) for me to put the arc ID in the character description. Something like,

"Ms. Magnificent on loan from author @BobJones. Want to see more of her? Check out Arc ID# 123456"

Just some thoughts.

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This sounds great - how do I do it?

Easy enough. First, check out other arcs. Play some stories and see if you like any of the content or if there is a character that would fit really well in a cameo role in your arc or if there is a concept or idea you want to reference.

Or, if you know players of your arc would really like their arc too, ask if you can include a clue or item that gives them the arc ID.

For example, a bookshelf collection item that is not mandatory for mission completion (thus doesn't appear on the navigation compass or objectives list) might reward inquisitive players with the following:

Ahhhh. . . . Thank you! This is great info, and it's getting me thinking. Thanks!

Arc writers in my RP coalition have been doing this sort of thing pretty much since the AE launched. We routinely place each others' characters in our arcs and swap enemy critter files. We've had a few cases where one person writes an arc that's based in some way on another person's arc, too.

For example, when a member of my coalition wrote an arc that detailed our heroes stopping a bunch of zombies caused by science gone horribly awry, we ran it and enjoyed it. The final mission was locking down an outbreak in King's Row before it could spread.

While playing, I thought of all the terrible things my villain character could do if she got her hands on a way to make an army of super-zombies. So, I wrote an arc for our villain characters trying to gather information and materials, then test them to make sure the zombies worked right. I got the critter files for the zombies, set an early mission in King's Row with the assumption that the villains would be collecting data in the aftermath of the heroes stopping the outbreak, and even had the villains kidnapping the scientist that was the contact for the first arc. We ended up with two arcs that were distinct and could be played individually, but added up to something more when considered together.

These sorts of things work tremendously well to build cohesion and verisimilitude among a group of people. Any good tabletop GM has been doing it for years. The devs do it--and when they don't, we call them on it. I just sort of assumed more arc writers already did things like this among people sharing their universe.

Yea, I kinda figured some SG & Coalitions might be doing this... but there's a lot of solo authors out there looking for plays and I think this might be a way to extend a hand out to others of like mind to make a more immersive, interactive and integrated community.

Plus, I would imagine it would result in more plays for those seeking that.

Also meant to add:

"Thank you very much, Bleak_Wanderer for the excellent write-up!"

I get too long-winded sometimes and trying to keep my post short recently.

Upcoming "Tips & Tributes" from myself and 1st. Son soon...

(mine's now live)

So far I've added three, and have a few more to add before its ready. Here's one.


Tribute to Rider's Ribs Restaurant Rescue
Arc 163967 - @Zamuel



Edit- Yes I see the typo "Iit's" and the <br> didn't work
/e puts it on the fix list.

Looking good so far, I'll be watching to see when you stamp it ready to go (or close enough to final - seems to take a while to get it to that stage)

Updated with 1st. Son's additions and my first arc's modifications.